Meet Devika Rotawan, The Girl Who Identified 26/11 Mumbai Attackers

Fifteen years after the harrowing events of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the city still bears the scars of that unforgettable night. Devika Rotawan, at the tender age of nine, was the youngest survivor of the November 2008 terror attacks. Shot in the leg, she not only survived the ordeal but later stood in court to identify the lone terrorist, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab. Now, at 24, Devika reflects on the profound changes in her life as she continues to navigate the aftermath of that fateful night.

Surviving the Nightmare: 

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The siege, lasting 60 agonising hours, left scars on the soul of India's financial and entertainment capital, claiming 166 lives. At just nine years old, a month shy of her 10th birthday, Devika was shot in the leg by Qasab at the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, who later emerged as the youngest witness in the trial. Her resilience echoed as she calmly identified the terrorist in a packed courtroom, earning her the title of the "girl who identified Qasab."

In May 2010, justice prevailed as Qasab faced the death penalty and, two years later, was hanged in a maximum-security prison in Pune. 

Transformation Amidst Struggles:

Now approaching 25, Devika is a final year Bachelor of Arts (BA) student at Chetna College in Bandra, residing in a modest apartment with her father. She is currently looking for a job to support her family.  While the scars on her leg occasionally remind her of that dreadful night, Devika is resolute in her pursuit of a dream – to become an IPS officer and end terrorism.

Devika's life, thrust into the national spotlight, was far from ordinary. Having lost her mother in 2006 and with her father's dry fruit business crumbling post-attack, she faced both physical and emotional hardships. Six surgeries by the age of 11, a bout of tuberculosis in 2014, her schoolmates even labelled societal ostracisation marked her "Kasab ki beti," adding a layer of pain to her already challenging existence. Yet, amid the hardships, she fights for normalcy, battling legal battles for a promised home and steering her family toward stability.

Embracing her identity as the "girl who identified Qasab," Devika remains unfazed by the media's constant seeking of quotes during India-Pakistan tensions. Her advice, as shared with BBC's Soutik Biswas, resonates with determination: "Whatever you do in your life, make sure at the end of the day you are happy." Her enduring smile reveals a woman determined to protect India from terrorists, aspiring to a future beyond the shadows of tragedy.